Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Whip \Whip\, n. [OE. whippe. See {Whip}, v. t.]
   1. An instrument or driving horses or other animals, or for
      correction, consisting usually of a lash attached to a
      handle, or of a handle and lash so combined as to form a
      flexible rod. ``[A] whip's lash.'' --Chaucer.

            In his right hand he holds a whip, with which he is
            supposed to drive the horses of the sun. --Addison.

   2. A coachman; a driver of a carriage; as, a good whip.
      --Beaconsfield.

   3. (Mach.)
      (a) One of the arms or frames of a windmill, on which the
          sails are spread.
      (b) The length of the arm reckoned from the shaft.

   4. (Naut.)
      (a) A small tackle with a single rope, used to hoist light
          bodies.
      (b) The long pennant. See {Pennant}
      (a)

   5. A huntsman who whips in the hounds; whipper-in.

   6. (Eng. Politics)
      (a) A person (as a member of Parliament) appointed to
          enforce party discipline, and secure the attendance of
          the members of a Parliament party at any important
          session, especially when their votes are needed.
      (b) A call made upon members of a Parliament party to be
          in their places at a given time, as when a vote is to
          be taken.

   {Whip and spur}, with the utmost haste.

   {Whip crane}, or {Whip purchase}, a simple form of crane
      having a small drum from which the load is suspended,
      turned by pulling on a rope wound around larger drum on
      the same axle.

   {Whip gin}. See {Gin block}, under 5th {Gin}.

   {Whip grafting}. See under {Grafting}.

   {Whip hand}, the hand with which the whip is used; hence,
      advantage; mastery; as, to have or get the whip hand of a
      person. --Dryden.

   {Whip ray} (Zo["o]l.), the European eagle ray. See under
      {Ray}.

   {Whip roll} (Weaving), a roll or bar, behind the reeds in a
      loom, on which the warp threads rest.

   {Whip scorpion} (Zo["o]l.), any one of numerous species of
      arachnids belonging to {Thelyphonus} and allied genera.
      They somewhat resemble true scorpions, but have a long,
      slender bristle, or lashlike organ, at the end of the
      body, instead of a sting.

   {Whip snake} (Zo["o]l.), any one of various species of
      slender snakes. Specifically:
      (a) A bright green South American tree snake ({Philodryas
          viridissimus}) having a long and slender body. It is
          not venomous. Called also {emerald whip snake}.
      (b) The coachwhip snake.

Source : WordNet®

whip snake
     n : any of several fast-moving North American snakes with long
         whiplike tails [syn: {whip-snake}]